Acts 10:9-23
New International Version (NIV)
Peter’s Vision[SIZE=.9em]
(A)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=.75em]9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof[/SIZE][SIZE=.65em]
(B)[/SIZE]
to pray. [SIZE=.75em]10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.[/SIZE][SIZE=.65em]
(C)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=.75em]11 He saw heaven opened[/SIZE][SIZE=.65em]
(D)[/SIZE]
and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. [SIZE=.75em]12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 [/SIZE]Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
[SIZE=.75em]14 “Surely not, Lord!”[/SIZE][SIZE=.65em]
(E)[/SIZE]
Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”[SIZE=.65em]
(F)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=.75em]15 The voice spoke to him a second time, [/SIZE]
“Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”[SIZE=.65em]
(G)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=.75em]16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=.75em]17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision,[/SIZE][SIZE=.65em]
(H)[/SIZE]
the men sent by Cornelius[SIZE=.65em]
(I)[/SIZE]
found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. [SIZE=.75em]18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=.75em]19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision,[/SIZE][SIZE=.65em]
(J)[/SIZE]
the Spirit said[SIZE=.65em]
(K)[/SIZE]
to him, “Simon, three[SIZE=.65em]
[a][/SIZE]
men are looking for you. [SIZE=.75em]20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”[/SIZE][SIZE=.65em]
(L)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=.75em]21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=.75em]22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man,[/SIZE][SIZE=.65em]
(M)[/SIZE]
who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”[SIZE=.65em]
(N)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=.75em]23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.[/SIZE]
This scripture has a duel meaning, of course the first being the ushering in of the Gentiles in to faith in Christ, but the second being the food and other Gentile customs.
Peter and Paul were both going to be in countries that serve these types of foods.
The food itself didnt matter, what matters is the message. They couldn't be there observing the old Law because their commision was to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ not to enforce or even encourage the observance of the OLd Law.
If they did then the message to the gentiles would be convoluted with works and not grace.
God had proclaimed these things to be clean they could now not only mix with Gentiles in there own homes and customs, but more importantly they could share the saving gospel of Jesus Christ.
Observing the customs of the law would have only served to hinder the progression of the Word throughout the nations.